If you made changes to your elections under the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance Program (FEGLI) during last year’s open season, now is the time to check that your changes took effect.
Changes made to FEGLI during the September 2016 open season had a one-year delayed effective date. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is encouraging employees to check their leave and earnings statements to confirm that the right premiums for the right coverage are being withheld. Employees can confirm their premiums using the FEGLI calculator or premium rates table here.
While most open season elections took effect Oct. 1, employees will not see the new coverage and premiums until they receive their pay later this month or early November for the pay period beginning Oct. 1. Federal employees who believe their FEGLI elections should have taken effect but have not or you inadvertently cancelled or reduced your coverage, contact OPM or your human resources department. Retirees who need help with their insurance should contact OPM’s Retirement Information Office at 1-888-767-6738 or email them at retire@opm.gov.
OPM has found that some employees incorrectly completed their FEGLI elections by signing only for basic and for new coverage, causing them to inadvertently cancel their current optional coverage. OPM can correct this issue and reinstate coverage if contacted before Nov. 11.
New to FEGLI?
New federal employees are automatically covered by basic life insurance and your payroll office deducts premiums from your paycheck unless you waive the coverage. In addition to the basic coverage, there are three forms of optional insurance. Unlike basic, enrollment in optional insurance is not automatic and requires action to elect the options. The cost of basic insurance is shared between the employee and the government, while employees pay the full cost of optional insurance, and the cost depends on the employee’s age.